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INSIDE
THIS EDITION+ Calls for Development Group Members
+ Industry Trials Considered in AS 7531 - Lighting and Visibility Update
+ What is the Deep Future of Rail 2070?
+ Countdown on for RISSB's Rail Safety Conference
+ Rail Safety Awards Update
+ Invitation to take Part in Psychosocial Health Survey
+ RISSB Welcomes Memorandum of Cooperation
+ Did you know?
PRODUCTS
Calls for Development Group MembersWe are accepting nominations from people interested in helping us review and update AS 7630 Track Classification to incorporate all elements of corridor infrastructure. This RISSB project is part of the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP) program of work approved by ministers and overseen by the National Transport Commission (NTC), and seeks to boost productivity, encourage efficiencies and harmonise Australia’s rail network.
RISSB is excited to continue its support of the NRAP with the review and improvement of concept design Standards. As the industry’s accredited Standards development organisation, we continue to collaborate with government, rail operators and industry leaders to help drive harmonisation and interoperability in Australian rail. This project also supports industry's overall decarbonisation efforts and move to get more freight on rail by addressing strategic issues such as network resilience, faster track speeds and increased axle loads.
This updated Standard shall build and add to existing Australian Standard 7630 - Track Classification, which details rail classification and considers asset lifecycle and concept design requirements for:
* Bridge load effects analysis
* Transit space clearances
* New track geometry design parameters
* Bridge capacity strategies
* Axle load strategies
* Sustainability measures across the asset life.
These design requirements shall also consider:
* Earthworks
* Structures
* Wayside infrastructure
* Track infrastructure.
All nominations and enquiries about the Standard and participation are to be submitted to cwilson@rissb.com.au. The closing date for nominations is Friday, 14 April 2023.
Industry Trials Considered in AS 7531 - Lighting and Visibility UpdateRISSB is currently updating AS 7531 which seeks to set a benchmark for the performance of rolling stock livery, headlights, tail lights, visibility lights as well as flashing beacons for maintenance vehicles and a range of other items to help to improve the conspicuity of railway vehicles.
In parallel, the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator has arranged for members of the Freight on Rail Group (FORG) to undertake trials of flashing beacons on locomotives and conversion of locomotive headlights from halogen globes to light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Their trials suggest that: * There are no significant differences between LED and SEALED headlights when considering the effects of the conversion of the headlight from SEALED to LED alone. * The LED headlight does provide improved visibility in comparison to a SEALED headlight in misty conditions (360%). However, the visibility improvement due to headlight conversion in clear weather condition is insignificant. * The beacon lights’ effect is significant when the level crossing angle is obtuse and when the road user is in close range to the level crossing. This work is now being considered in the refresh of AS 7531 which will go out for a second round of public consultation in the next month or so.
What is the Deep Future of Rail 2070?One of our Technology and Innovation Conference keynote speakers, Matt Griffin, from the 311 Institute has made his keynote speech available to anyone with an interest in rail and rail futures. Matt's conference presentation covered the deep future of rail which spans a horizon of 50 years and discusses everything from tunnels being built in weeks to crypto cities.
His video on Youtube can be viewed here.
Countdown on for RISSB's Rail Safety ConferenceWith just under five weeks left until our Rail Safety Conference, now is the time to book a ticket to this year's premier rail safety event.
As the industry meets new challenges (from sustainability and climate change, to remote working, to digital asset management, to innovation) it is essential to provide our people with effective technical skills to successfully and safely cope with a rail network that is transforming to become more efficient, interoperable, digital and optimiaed. With this vision, the theme that is guiding this year's program is Mind the Gap – Safety, Skills and Interoperability. If you'd like to book a ticket for you or your team to attend, go to www.railsafetyconference.com.au. You will also find the agenda and list of speakers on this page. Rail Safety Awards UpdateThank you for the strong support of our annual Rail Safety Awards. Submissions closed last week and our judges are currently assessing all the nominations with a view to contacting finalists within a week and a half.
Best of luck everyone.
Invitation to take Part in Psychosocial Health SurveyRISSB is inviting industry to take part in an industry-wide survey to better understand the psychosocial health of rail employees.
The survey comprises approximately 10 questions regarding psychosocial health and well-being. The questions will cover work-related stress, job satisfaction, work-life balance, and social support.
Garry Marling from Ringo App will be administering the survey and discussing the results at a special RISSB MasterClass event on 20th June. Who can participate?
Participants must be currently employed in the rail industry and willing to complete the survey on the phone app. All up, we expect more than 50 people will participate in the survey. Data collection
The survey will be conducted using a phone app. Participants will receive an email invitation with a link to download the app and access the survey. Confidentiality
Data will be kept confidential and stored in a secure encrypted database and results will be presented anonymously with individual responses not identifiable. If you are interested in participating in this survey, please send an email with your name, position, company and phone number to this email address: garry.marling@ringoapp.com.au
by COB Friday, 14 April 2023.
RISSB Welcomes Memorandum of CooperationRISSB applauds the recent announcement that a Memorandum of Cooperation had been signed by the Federal and Victorian governments and the Australasian Railway Association to make rail more competitive and interoperable across Australia. The Memorandum of Cooperation commits rail operators, builders, manufacturers and transport ministers to work together to make rail more interoperable, particularly for any future major rail investments, and is a position that RISSB has been calling for, for a long time as different jurisdictions continue to sign off on different signaling, infrastructure and job
requirements and focus on short-term monetary goals.
Our CEO called on government to fast-track change in a November Infrastructure Magazine article.
For the past 20 years, RISSB has been helping drive rail reform and inspiring change through its delivery of National Rail Action Plan initiatives and creating opportunities for industry to benefit from efficiencies, improve safety, support local manufacturing and increase productivity through the development of a suite of harmonised Standards, Codes of Practice, and Network Rules.
You can read the full announcement here
Did you know?
The EU is pushing for a Single European Railway Area driving an increase in cross-border passenger services as part of a broader modal shift. Read the Railway Gazette article here.
RISSB – Industry’s Partner in Co-Regulation
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